Preventing Burnout In Health Care

Twenty years ago, when George Ford, M.D. was an idealistic, young physician working for Southwest Medical Clinic – now IMED – the burden of being responsible for his patients’ well-being almost became too much.

“I felt emotionally exhausted,” says Ford, whose wife, a former nurse, became ill at the time. “I nearly burned out. Patients expect wisdom from you, but they want more than that, too. After a period of time you begin to see people who have other issues that can’t be fixed by a pill–you’re not prepared or trained to do that. When you add it all up, it can feel like more than one doctor can give.”

Ultimately, it was Dr. Ford’s faith that brought him back. “When I went to our pastor he referred me to a Bible commentary. The touchstone of my life turned out to be scripture,” he says, referring to the golden rule, stated in the book of Matthew: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto to you.” Now, he is using that principle to address burnout in the medical profession, what he considers “the 800 pound elephant sitting in the room that no one wants to talk about.”

Any local doctor or nurse reading this can probably attest to the high level of stress of working in healthcare and the burnout that sometimes comes along with it. Studies show that medical professionals have a 30 to 60 percent burnout rate, a higher rate than most professions. It can happen in any profession but in medicine it is more common because medicine is considered a calling. Ford defines burnout as loss of vitality and idealism–superimposed upon decay of physical and emotional well being.

“It is sort of like slogging through the snow,” says Ford, referring to the demands of being a doctor or nurse. “There is so much to do–you set out wanting to change the world and then realize you can’t do that.”

Another factor that contributes to burnout: a high degree of perfectionism in medicine. “We’re not very tolerant of mistakes and we are workaholics,” says Dr. Ford, who still works for IMED. “Like a guppie, you have to work hard not to feed him too much–or he will die. Well, doctors and nurses will work themselves to death.”

Dr. Ford is offering clinicians a place to turn. He organized the first ever burnout conference for doctors and nurses in San Antonio, held at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital, November 14th. It was a big success, but that was just the beginning. Dr. Ford has started a monthly group called Oasis for Clinicians.

“It will involve nurturing the healthcare clinician’s soul through narrative, reflective reading and writing, and mindfulness – very engaging material,” says Dr. Ford. Time management, exercise and support groups can also help. Of course, the real value of any support group is the realization that you are not the only one.

The purpose of Oasis for Clinicians is to prevent doctors and nurses from leaving the medical profession, or worse. “There are not all that many places in North America that are doing this,” he says. “Past endeavors – in Ottawa and Vanderbilt, for example – were started after the suicide of one of their colleagues or attempted suicide. We want to prevent that from happening.”

Dr. Ford gives credit to Dean Alexander and Jeannette Skinner CEO and COO, respectively, of Methodist Hospital in Stone Oak. “The opportunity we have with this new hospital is fantastic. It is new – a fresh start. We have the chance to make changes.”

“The goal is to get back to why we do it, “Dr. Ford explains. “I want to breathe back that essence. Why you got into medicine in the first place. It is a wonderful profession but a horrible business. If we are happier, we will do a better job and patients will be happier.”

For more information about Oasis for Clinicians, please call IMED at (210) 404-0000. Oasis for Clinicians will meet every third Thursday of the month, beginning Thursday January 21st at Stone Oak Methodist.

Holly Coyle believes that, in medicine, open lines of communication are crucial. As a writer for Gastroenterology Consultants of San Antonio, she serves as a link between doctors and patients and writes health stories in order to empower readers. Holly has a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. She also studied at the University of Texas at Austin and was a broadcast journalist for 10 years covering health issues and breaking news.